Full Breakdown
Washington Man Charged After Throwing Rock at Endangered Hawaiian Monk Seal
5/18/2026, 10:36:48 PM
Incident Overview
On May 5 2026, Igor Mykhaylovych Lytvynchuk, a 38-year-old from Covington, Washington, was filmed on a Lahaina beach in Maui hurling a coconut-sized rock at a Hawaiian monk seal identified as Lani. The rock missed the seal’s nose, causing it to retreat. Lytvynchuk told witnesses he was trying to protect two sea turtles (honu) he said were being displaced by the seal. Hawaiian monk seals are listed as endangered, making any harassment a federal offense.
Legal Charges and Potential Penalties
Federal prosecutors charged Lytvynchuk with violating the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act by harassing an endangered animal. Each count carries up to one year in prison and fines of up to $50,000 under the ESA and $20,000 under the MMPA. He was arrested near Seattle, ordered to surrender his passport, and is slated for a hearing in Honolulu on May 27.
Defense Narrative
Attorney Myles Breiner told KHON-TV that Lytvynchuk “never intended to injure the monk seal” and acted only to scare the animal away from turtles he believed were being harmed. Breiner said his client was unaware that monk seals are protected, cited past encounters with aggressive sea lions in Washington as influencing his reaction, and expressed that Lytvynchuk is “devastated” by public perception while planning to accept responsibility for the legal violation.
Public Reaction and Opposition
The video spread rapidly online, prompting widespread outrage. Local witnesses reported that Lytvynchuk was later assaulted, sustaining welts on his back, head and shoulders. Critics highlighted his remark that he was “rich enough to pay the fines,” interpreting it as arrogance. Community members and wildlife advocates called for strict enforcement of protections for the monk seal.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on Lytvynchuk’s exact comment about paying fines; some reports quote him as saying he was “rich enough to pay the fines,” while his attorney insists the statement was “I can afford it.” No public record confirms whether Lytvynchuk knew the seal’s endangered status before the incident.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I want to be resoundingly clear to the public — he never intended to injure the monk seal,” — Myles Breiner, Attorney
- “He wanted to scare the seal away from the honu he saw there.” — Myles Breiner, Attorney
- “Apparently, there were two large turtles and one had already been knocked off the rock by the seal.” — Myles Breiner, Attorney
- “Fine me. I’m rich.” — Igor Lytvynchuk
Timeline
- May 5 2026 – Lytvynchuk throws rock at seal; video recorded.
- May 16 2026 – Attorney Breiner explains motive in media interview.
- May 27 2026 – Federal hearing scheduled in Honolulu.
What’s Next
Lytvynchuk is expected to plead not guilty at the May 27 hearing. The court will determine whether he is convicted and, if so, impose the statutory fines and possible imprisonment.
